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Teacher of the Assembly, Church
Ecclesiastes 1:1 “The words of the Preacher (Kohelet), the son of David, king in Jerusalem”
The book of Ecclesiastes was given a Greek name, “Ecclesiastes,” because it’s a translation from the Septuagint (greek translation called LXX) of the Hebrew title “Kohelet“. Kohelet H6953 – qōheleṯ, means “one who convenes or addresses an assembly”, a public speaker – or as some translations use “Preacher”. The word come from Kahal H6950 – qāhal, meaning to assemble or gather. The greek translated word “Ecclesiastes” is derived from ekklesia G1577 – ekklēsia, meaning a gathering of citizens out of their homes into a public place, assembling together.
Yeshua used this word “ekklesia” in Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So the translation church is not really correct, as a church is seen as a building or institution. Where with Ekklesia, Yeshua is saying He is calling people out of families and homes to gather and assemble together, being called out into a public place, gathered together. Today there over 45,000 Christian denominations worldwide! And each one believing their own ways and rules – this can be so confusing when reading the bible, about the “Church” – and you wonder well which Church is it? The truth is – not one of them. Ekklesia is not a denomination, but people who respond to Yeshua’s Call and follow His Way (see our previous post on the first followers of Yeshua calling themselves “The Way“)
Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life under the sun. It grapples with the futility of worldly pursuits and the inevitability of death, yet ultimately points towards a YHWH-centered life and the fear of YHWH as a source of meaning.
Time and Purpose
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”
YHWH created Time and Seasons. In Genesis 1:14 “And YHWH said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”. The hebrew word here for season is Moedim H4150 – môʿēḏ, meaning a get together, congregation, a feast, a season, an appointed time.
The Hebrew word for time is Et H6256 – ʿēṯ, meaning “time“, but also experiences, occurrence and season. The hebrew word used in Ecc 3:1 for Purpose, is actual suppose to be Delight, or Pleasure, Hepes H2656 – ḥēp̄eṣ – a Good Purpose. The hebrew word in Ecc 3:1 for Season is Zeman H2165 – zᵊmān, meaning a specific set time, appointed time. So you might read Ecc 3:1 like this, “to every thing there is a specific appointed time given, and experiences for every good delight under the heaven”.
The VERY FIRST Appointment, Appointed Time YHWH gave, was the Sabbath in Genesis 2:3 “And YHWH blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it”, and Exodus Exo 20:10 “But the seventh day is the sabbath of YHWH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work”. In Leviticus 23 a detailed explanation is given on how to keep the 7 other Moedim (appointed times) every year that YHWH declared to be held forever. Click here to download a 1 Page PDF with the basic scripture verses that explains the appointed times.
